Posted on 06/24/2004 2:48:41 AM PDT by Robert Drobot
© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com
A brand-new translation of the Bible – praised by Britain's archbishop of Canterbury, that nation’s senior Christian voice – flatly contradicts traditional core Christian beliefs on sex and morality.
Titled "Good as New," the new Bible is translated by former Baptist minister John Henson for the "One" organization, to produce what the group calls a "new, fresh and adventurous" translation of the Christian scriptures.
Archbishop Rowan Williams
The 104th archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams – leader of the Church of England – describes it is a book of "extraordinary power," but admitted many would be startled by its content.
"Instead of condemning fornicators, adulterers and 'abusers of themselves with mankind'," says Ruth Gledhill, the London Times religious affairs correspondent, "the new version of his first letter to Corinth has St. Paul advising Christians not to go without sex for too long in case they get 'frustrated.'"
"The new version, which Dr. Williams says he hopes will spread 'in epidemic profusion through religious and irreligious alike', turns St. Paul's strictures against fornication on their head," adds the Times.
The One organization that produced the new Bible translation is dedicated to "establish[ing] peace, justice, dignity and rights for all." It is also focused on "sustainable use of the earth's resources," challenging "oppression, injustice, exclusion and discrimination" as well as accepting "one another, valuing their diversity and experience."
According to Ekklesia, a London-based "theological think tank" that supports the "One" translation:
The translation is pioneering in its accessibility, and changes the original Greek and Hebrew nomenclature into modern nicknames. St. Peter becomes "Rocky," Mary Magdalene becomes "Maggie," Aaron becomes "Ron," Andronicus becomes "Andy" and Barabbas becomes "Barry." In keeping with the times, translator Henson deftly translates "demon possession" as "mental illness" and "Son of Man," the expression Jesus frequently used to describe himself, as "the Complete Person." In addition, parables are rendered as "riddles," baptize is to "dip" in water, salvation becomes "healing" or "completeness" and Heaven becomes "the world beyond time and space."
Here's how Williams, the top Anglican archbishop, describes the new Bible: "Instead of being taken into a specialized religious frame of reference – as happens even with the most conscientious of formal modern translations – and being given a gospel addressed to specialized concerns … we have here a vehicle for thinking and worshipping that is fully earthed, recognizably about our humanity."
In addition, notes Ekklesia, the archbishop praises Henson's translation for eliminating "the stale, the technical, the unconsciously exclusive words and policies" in other translations.
Here, according to the London Times, are a few sample passages:
Mark 1:4
Authorized version: "John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins."
New: "John, nicknamed 'The Dipper,' was 'The Voice.' He was in the desert, inviting people to be dipped, to show they were determined to change their ways and wanted to be forgiven."
Mark 1:10-11
Authorized version: "And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him. And there came a voice from the heaven saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
New: "As he was climbing up the bank again, the sun shone through a gap in the clouds. At the same time a pigeon flew down and perched on him. Jesus took this as a sign that God's spirit was with him. A voice from overhead was heard saying, 'That's my boy! You're doing fine!'"
Matthew 23:25
Authorized version: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!"
New version: "Take a running jump, Holy Joes, humbugs!"
Matthew 26:69-70
Authorized version: "Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, 'Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.' But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest."
New: "Meanwhile Rocky was still sitting in the courtyard. A woman came up to him and said: 'Haven't I seen you with Jesus, the hero from Galilee?" Rocky shook his head and said: 'I don't know what the hell you're talking about!'"
1 Corinthians 7:1-2
KJV: "Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: [It is] good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, [to avoid] fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband."
New: "Some of you think the best way to cope with sex is for men and women to keep right away from each other. That is more likely to lead to sexual offences. My advice is for everyone to have a regular partner."
1 Corinthians 7:8-7
KJV: "I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn."
New: "If you know you have strong needs, get yourself a partner. Better than being frustrated."
I pray the Holy Ghost blinds Rome's awareness of this written in hell heresy.
NYer and cpforlife.org : Please inform FReepers about this thread through your ping lists. Thanks.
this was posted yesterday.
liberalism has and will be satans best work in the name of whatever rewritten bible.
as a side note,lets not think rome the dominion of christianity.
I'll go with a more detailed WorldNetDaily.com prepared story over a half-baked BBC snippet any day of the week.
The more spicific WND story is in today's 24 June 2004 edition. The BBC 'filler' was dashed off yesterday.
spicific = specific
Oh come on....we all know about the unfortunate and embarrassing Henry VIII divorce His Church would not recognize, and all subsequent maters related thereto.
And those trouble makers Luther and Calvin!
How does anyone know something this hasn't been done before...resulting in what was, before this one, the currently accepted version?
New: "If you know you have strong needs, get yourself a partner. Better than being frustrated."
If this were not intended as Gospel, it would be hilarious...what was the point of this exercise?
This is from "The Onion", right?
Can't be for real.
Oh no, it IS for real.
Lord, have mercy!!!
No cause for worry here -- this translation is so stupid that we're unlikely to ever see it in a bookstore anyway.
"How does anyone know something this hasn't been done before...resulting in what was, before this one, the currently accepted version?"
Oh, I don't know... how about hundreds (or more) copies of original language manuscripts?
This news makes some of the pope's ecumenical gestures even more troubling...
http://www.traditioninaction.org/RevolutionPhotos/A033rcRowanWilliams.htm
Weren't they written by different men, in ancient languages that are/were interpreted differently? How do you know which ones are original?
this is bad....
The source documents we have for Biblical texts have a tremoundously high amount of agreement with each other. It's not about knowing which ones are original. It's about knowing that we have accurate and useful translations from those source documents.
Authorship is a large issue unto itself, and probably should be the subject of a different thread.
I don't know about that. We are seeing "My Lies" by Bill Clinton now in the stores. Nothing would surprise me at this point.
PING
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.